I Contain Multitudes, with Sarah Stein Lubrano
04/16/25 • 60 min
An episode all about cognitive dissonance.
Ever feel like there are two yous in the same head? The one that cares about the planet, and the one that doesn't act like it does? And that having two yous makes at least one of your yous freak out? You (and you) are not alone.
Welcome to cognitive dissonance. As Walt Whitman wrote: you contain multitudes. It's a feature, not a bug, of being alive.
Humans, it turns out, are very good at thinking conflicting things at the same time. This helps us get through the day, but means we're as likely to run away from scary facts we don't like - eg, the state of planet Earth - as to take meaningful action. It's as bad for our politics as it is for getting our heads around climate change. What's to be done?
In this episode, Dave chats all things cognitive dissonance and more with the brilliant Sarah Stein Lubrano. Sarah's an author, podcaster and academic whose work is at the intersection of psychology, politics, and cognitive science. Her new book, Don't Talk About Politics: How to change 21st century minds, is out in mid-May.
- Let me know your thoughts on the show - [email protected].
- Please rate, review and subscribe, and share the show on socials.
- Please consider chucking this humble indie podcaster a few quid at www.patreon.com/yourbrainonclimate.
Owl noises = references:
- 23:52 - Joseph Henrich coined the term WEIRD & wrote a book about it.
- 32:30 - Excellent article on Kristin Laurin's work studying bans.
- 42:44 - Deep organising, via the legend that was Jane McAlevey.
- 49:29 - Google Deepmind founder Mustafa Suleyman's terrifying book, the Coming Wave.
- 52:35 - critical theory and social pathology.
Clips in this episode are from the (er) 1984 film of 1984, starring Robert Burton and John Hurt.
The show is hosted and produced by me, Dave Powell, who you can find @powellds on Bluesky and X/Twitter, although I don't use the latter any more.
YBOC theme music and iterations thereof, by me. Show logo by Arthur Stovell at www.designbymondial.com.
Recharge with David Ko is a 5-part limited podcast series premiering in May to...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
An episode all about cognitive dissonance.
Ever feel like there are two yous in the same head? The one that cares about the planet, and the one that doesn't act like it does? And that having two yous makes at least one of your yous freak out? You (and you) are not alone.
Welcome to cognitive dissonance. As Walt Whitman wrote: you contain multitudes. It's a feature, not a bug, of being alive.
Humans, it turns out, are very good at thinking conflicting things at the same time. This helps us get through the day, but means we're as likely to run away from scary facts we don't like - eg, the state of planet Earth - as to take meaningful action. It's as bad for our politics as it is for getting our heads around climate change. What's to be done?
In this episode, Dave chats all things cognitive dissonance and more with the brilliant Sarah Stein Lubrano. Sarah's an author, podcaster and academic whose work is at the intersection of psychology, politics, and cognitive science. Her new book, Don't Talk About Politics: How to change 21st century minds, is out in mid-May.
- Let me know your thoughts on the show - [email protected].
- Please rate, review and subscribe, and share the show on socials.
- Please consider chucking this humble indie podcaster a few quid at www.patreon.com/yourbrainonclimate.
Owl noises = references:
- 23:52 - Joseph Henrich coined the term WEIRD & wrote a book about it.
- 32:30 - Excellent article on Kristin Laurin's work studying bans.
- 42:44 - Deep organising, via the legend that was Jane McAlevey.
- 49:29 - Google Deepmind founder Mustafa Suleyman's terrifying book, the Coming Wave.
- 52:35 - critical theory and social pathology.
Clips in this episode are from the (er) 1984 film of 1984, starring Robert Burton and John Hurt.
The show is hosted and produced by me, Dave Powell, who you can find @powellds on Bluesky and X/Twitter, although I don't use the latter any more.
YBOC theme music and iterations thereof, by me. Show logo by Arthur Stovell at www.designbymondial.com.
Recharge with David Ko is a 5-part limited podcast series premiering in May to...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Previous Episode
MICRO: Running Up That Hill
In this YBOC microdose, a hark back to my inspirational chat with ultrarunner and climate activist Damian Hall, who dispensed his wisdom about how to keep up the slog - advice that's as useful for changing the world as it is for running up that hill.
Sorting climate change is the definition of a marathon, not a sprint. It particularly feels that way right now. What we need is ENDURANCE, and plenty of it - and the right perspective to keep on keeping on.
For the full chat, check out episode 23 here.
If you like the show please do consider chipping in a couple of quid over at http://www.patreon.com/yourbrainonclimate. And a written review would be ace. Please thank you please.
The show is hosted and produced by me, Dave Powell, who you can find @powellds on Bluesky and X/Twitter, although I don't use the latter any more.
YBOC theme music and iterations thereof, by me. Show logo by Arthur Stovell at www.designbymondial.com.
Next Episode
MICRO: You Disgust Me
In this bite-sized edition we look back at perhaps my favouritest episode ever - episode 9 about disgust, with Yoel Inbar.
We all have a gag reflex. But when we find people - like polluters - disgusting, are we feeing *actually* disgusted, or is it just a metaphor? What about how we might feel about things like climate change itself? Does it make us want, literally, to vom?
If you like the show please do consider chipping in a couple of quid over at http://www.patreon.com/yourbrainonclimate. And a written review would be ace. Please thank you please.
The show is hosted and produced by me, Dave Powell, who you can find @powellds on Bluesky and X/Twitter, although I don't use the latter any more.
YBOC theme music and iterations thereof, by me. Show logo by Arthur Stovell at www.designbymondial.com.
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